Summer break has come to a close as Clark County Public Schools students return to school today.

With the back-to-school busyness and chaos, many are rushing about town.

Whether at pickup or drop-off, stuck in traffic with buses or even driving through your neighborhood, now is an excellent time to be extra vigilant to protect the children that will be out and about.

The National Safety Council offers these tips for drivers as students head back to school:

— Dropping off: Schools often have specific drop-off procedures for the school year. Make sure you know them for the safety of all kids. In school zones, don’t double park; it blocks visibility for other children and vehicles. Don’t load or unload children across the street from the school. Carpool to reduce the number of cars at the school.

— Sharing the road: According to research by the National Safety Council, most of the children who lose their lives in bus-related incidents are 4 to 7 years old, and they’re walking. They are hit by the bus, or by a motorist illegally passing a stopped bus.

Don’t block the crosswalk when stopped at a red light or waiting to make a turn, forcing pedestrians to go around you; this could put them in the path of moving traffic.

In a school zone when flashers are blinking, stop and yield to pedestrians crossing the crosswalk or intersection.

Always stop for a school patrol officer or crossing guard holding up a stop sign.

Take extra care to look out for children in school zones, near playgrounds and parks, and in all residential areas.

Don’t honk or rev your engine to scare a pedestrian, even if you have the right of way.

Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians.

Always use extreme caution to avoid striking pedestrians wherever they may be, no matter who has the right of way.

— Sharing the road with school buses: If you’re driving behind a bus, allow a greater following distance than if you were driving behind a car.

It will give you more time to stop once the yellow lights start flashing.

It is illegal in all 50 states to pass a school bus that is stopped to load or unload children.

Never pass a bus from behind — or from either direction if you’re on an undivided road — if it is stopped to load or unload children.

If the yellow or red lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended, traffic must stop.

The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children; stop far enough back to allow them space to enter and exit the bus safely.

Be alert; children often are unpredictable, and they tend to ignore hazards and take risks.

— Sharing the road with bicyclists: On most roads, bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as vehicles, but bikes can be hard to see.

Children riding bikes create particular problems for drivers because usually, they are not able to accurately determine traffic conditions.

The most common cause of collisions is a driver turning left in front of a bicyclist.

When passing a bicyclist, proceed in the same direction slowly, and leave three feet between your car and the cyclist.

When turning left and a bicyclist is approaching in the opposite direction, wait for the rider to pass.

If you’re turning right and bicyclists are approaching from behind on the right, let the rider go through the intersection first, and always use your turn signals.

Watch for bike riders turning in front of you without looking or signaling; children especially tend to do this.

Be extra vigilant in school zones and residential neighborhoods.

Watch for bikes coming from driveways or behind parked cars.

Check side mirrors before opening your door.

By exercising a little extra care and caution, drivers and pedestrians can coexist safely in school zones.